LIMA, Ohio, April 15, 2021 – The Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman will give the commencement address to nearly 350 graduates of the Rhodes State College Class of 2021 at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 8, 2021, at the College’s 51st annual commencement exercise to be held virtually.
Senate President Matt Huffman is currently serving his second term in the Ohio Senate, representing the 12th Senate district which includes all of Allen, Champaign, Mercer and Shelby counties, as well as portions of Auglaize, Darke and Logan counties. In his current role Senator Huffman is responsible for leading the Chamber and setting the policy agenda. He previously served four terms in the Ohio House of Representatives, the last two in leadership positions, including being elected by his fellow legislators to serves as the second highest-ranking member, Speaker Pro Tempore. Born and raised in Lima, Ohio, Senator Huffman has practiced law for the past 30 years in his family’s private practice law firm in downtown Lima.
Senator Huffman began his public service on Lima City Council in 1992, serving until 2006, including the final seven years as City Council President. In 2007, he began his service in the Ohio House of Representatives. During his time in the Ohio Legislature, Senator Huffman championed bills to reform the medical delivery system, protect life at all stages and reform the state’s education system.
He graduated from Lima Central Catholic High School in 1978. He then went on to earn his degree in Government from the University of Notre Dame in 1982 and his law degree from the University of Cincinnati School of Law in 1985.
Also during commencement, Rhodes State will present its 2021 Outstanding Alumni Award to Benjamin B. Stobbe, a 1987 Associate Degree graduate in Nursing from Lima Technical College (former name of Rhodes State College). Stobbe began his career in 1987 as a Registered Nurse at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He joined the hospital’s team to design one of the first interprofessional simulation centers in the country. This experience led to his involvement with the design, construction and management of simulated health teaching labs at the University of Toledo and, currently, the University of Nebraska Medical Center where he serves as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Clinical Simulation.
In this role, he provides leadership for the Sorrell Clinical Simulation Lab, College of Pharmacy Simulation Lab, Simulation in Motion Nebraska (Sim-NE), and the new Davis Global Center. Ultimately, Stobbe’s goal is to help create safer patient care providers and enhance patient safety.
“I look, occasionally, back at the start of my nursing career and am grateful for the path that I was directed towards [at Rhodes State College], since it has allowed me to experience an exciting professional career as well as enjoy a level of personal growth,” Stobbe said. “I know that I would not have been as successful and fortunate if I had not achieved my nursing education and had a clinical career first. I am grateful for the path that I was afforded since this has allowed me to experience an exciting professional career as well as being able to help others.”
In addition to his associate degree in nursing, Mr. Stobbe also completed a bachelor’s degree in Business and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. In 2010, he became a TeamSTEPPS (Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety) Master Trainer. TeamSTEPPS is an evidence-based set of teamwork tools, aimed at optimizing patient outcomes by improving communication and teamwork skills among health care professionals.
In addition to the Outstanding Alumni Award, Rhodes State College will induct three of its alumni into the Alumni Circle of Excellence this year. Established in 2018, the Alumni Circle of Excellence recognizes Associate Degree graduates of Rhodes State College and Lima Technical College who are doing exceptional work in their career field, community and for the College.
The 2021 Circle of Excellence inductees include:
Nicholas J. Pratt, a 2014 Nursing graduate who is a M.D. Candidate at Northeast Ohio Medical University in Cleveland. “My time at Rhodes State College has provided a firm foundation for my medical studies and towards my future career as a physician,” Pratt said. “It provided me with hands-on, real-world experience. I am extremely grateful and look forward to future service to the college and our community.”
Robert M. Fischnich, a 1999 Quality Engineering Technology graduate who is the Corporate Quality & Compliance Director at Schnipke Precision Molding in Ottoville, Ohio. Mr. Fischnich credits Lima Technical College for providing “a solid academic framework to build upon over the last 20+ years.” It was at LTC, where he learned that “quality” is a characteristic that everyone cares about, but is often not thought about until it is lacking.
Trina D. Carter, a 2013 Nursing graduate who is a Registered Nurse in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at Lima Memorial Hospital. Ms. Carter is an avid volunteer and is now travelling to help other medical facilities with pandemic-created staffing issues. She is currently doing a 4-month assignment in California to help with the treatment of COVID-19 patients.
Following this graduation, over 19,000 people will have graduated from the College since its establishment in 1971.
